The real British dream homes
If you want to know about the homes people really dream of living in, then don't ask them. They'll just say something sensible and dull about schools and parking. If you really want to know about the properties they hanker after living in, then you have to look at the homes they have been browsing.
Zoopla.co.uk has revealed the most commonly viewed properties on its books in the past month, and they speak volumes about what we really want.
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1. To actually be able to afford a place of your own
Several of the properties with huge numbers of views are not as expensive as you might think. Instead of just spending hours looking at properties we don't stand a chance of owning, two of the most popularly viewed homes are incredibly reasonable - and one of them costs under £100,000. It comes to something when the real answer to 'what is your dream home?' is 'something I can afford.'
2. To be detached
The vast majority of these properties stand alone, which goes to show that whether you're hankering after something in the middle of a field in County Durham, or a smart new-build in Sutton Coldfield, you don't want the experience to be sullied by the sound of the neighbours thudding through the walls.
3. To run a business from home
With a farm and a hotel/wedding venue on the list, clearly there are plenty of people who wish they could buy a home that provides them a steady income as well as a roof over their head.
4. To avoid doing any work
A running theme of these properties is the fact they were built or renovated recently - so there are no carpets that need pulling up or rooms requiring repainting. It seems we just want to move in and get on with life.
5. To indulge our passions
The fact that a property based in Arsenal's former home is so high on the list goes to show that while we may be adults on the outside, deep down we're all still kids. And while our heads tell us all kinds of sensible things about the space we need and the layout that works for our family, our hearts are busy screaming 'I want the Arsenal flat!'
Of course, while clearly most of these properties qualify as dream homes, there are a few on the 'most-viewed' list because they raise a smile. From the statement lighting in a Bootle terrace to the overly-flowery description of a new-build in Sutton Coldfield, while we're dreaming of our new life in our perfect home, we're also keen to have a look around a few properties that put a smile on our face.
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